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FNUS21 KWNS 180616

FWDDY1



Day 1 Fire Weather Outlook  

NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK

0116 AM CDT Wed Mar 18 2026



Valid 181200Z - 191200Z



...CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER AREA FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTHEASTERN

WYOMING...EXTREME WESTERN NEBRASKA...AND EXTREME NORTHERN

COLORADO...



...Synopsis...

A northwesterly upper-level flow regime will become established over

the northern Rockies and central CONUS today downstream of an

anomalously strong upper-level ridge centered over the Southwest.

This setup will favor strong downslope flow in the lee of the

central Rockies, with westerly to northwesterly surface winds and

very low RH values supporting elevated to critical fire weather

conditions across portions of the central High Plains.



...Portions of the central High Plains...

Northwesterly upper-level flow will strengthen across the northern

Rockies and central CONUS today downstream of an anomalously strong

upper-level ridge centered over the Southwest. With stronger

mid-level flow displaced toward the northern Rockies, surface lee

troughing will become most pronounced across central Montana to

eastern Wyoming this morning into this afternoon. When coupled with

surface high pressure established across the Intermountain West,

this will support strong downslope flow in the lee of the central

Rockies, with forecast guidance indicating sustained westerly to

northwesterly surface winds of 20-25 mph overlapping very low RH of

10-15%. With antecedent drought conditions and preceding dry/windy

conditions maintaining dry fuels and helping cure fine fuels in

areas that recently received precipitation, this will support

critical fire weather conditions across portions of southeastern

Wyoming, the western Nebraska Panhandle, and extreme northern

Colorado. The strongest winds are forecast near and east of the

leeward slopes of the Laramie Range, where deep boundary layer

mixing coupled with strong mid-level flow will also support the

potential for wind gusts of 30-35 mph. Latest high resolution

guidance also indicates slightly enhanced potential for critical

conditions within the North Platte River Valley from eastern Wyoming

into western Nebraska where topographical influences may locally

enhance downsloping effects. 



Elsewhere across the central High Plains, westerly to northwesterly

downslope winds of 15-25 mph will overlap reduced RH values of

15-25% to support elevated fire weather conditions across much of

eastern Wyoming, extreme southwestern South Dakota, the Nebraska

Panhandle, northeastern Colorado, and extreme northwestern Kansas.

Marginal fuel receptiveness is expected to limit widespread elevated

fire weather concerns for areas farther north and west at this time.



..Chalmers.. 03/18/2026



...Please see www.spc.noaa.gov/fire for graphic product...



$$